How cute are these little half sleeves made from the cuffs of an existing shirt!
Many of our patterns include options to use an existing adult shirt (Barra Button Back Top, Shirt to Stockbridge Top or the Shirt to Tobermory Top). This means you get the benefit of the beautiful professional tailoring (in the buttonholes, collar and/or cuffs a.k.a. the hard stuff) but all you need to do is some clever cutting and straight sewing.
You can also add cuff sleeves to just about any regular top you are making. You need to add bias binding round the armholes first which is the subject of a separate blog post (coming soon). The steps in this tutorial cover adding the actual cuff sleeve.
1. Add bias binding to the armholes and press.
It is better to add the bias binding and cuff sleeves before you sew the side seams. It is easier to work if the armholes are not yet joined together.
Adding bias binding to armholes will be the subject of a separate post (coming soon).
2.
Cut the cuffs off an existing shirt.
Cut the cuffs off an existing shirt leaving 1"/2.5cm fabric after the cuff.
Serge or zig-zag stitch the raw edge to prevent fraying.
3. Line up the cuff with the armhole.
Line up the edge of the cuff with the bias binding (the extra 1"/2.5cm of fabric going under the shoulder).
Line up the middle of the cuff with the shoulder seam.
You can have the buttons (if there are any on your cuff) face the front or the back. In our Barra Button Back Top, we like them to face the back.
4. Go to the start of the cuff.
Walk the fabric back with your fingers until you get to the start of the cuff.
Get ready to top sew down the outside edge of the bias binding.
5. Top sew cuff to top
Top sew down the outside edge of the bias binding to attach the cuff to the shoulder.
Repeat for both armholes/sleeves.
